Ecological features of the accumulation of carotenoids in the Black Sea molluscs

Abstract

The analysis of carotenoids of three species of bivalve filter feeding molluscs: Cerastoderma glaucum, Chamelea galina and Polititapis aureus, inhabiting the same ecotope, in the innermost part of the bay of the Sevastopol city, has been carried out. The dynamics of total carotenoid content (TCC) in these species had shown during 4 seasons of the year. The composition of carotenoids is presented in C. glaucum and P. aureus by 8 carotenoids, and Ch. galina - 11 carotenoids. However, in P. aureus, only 75% of the TCC were analyzed. The TCC of all 3 species of molluscs contained to 75% of the total (identical) carotenoids. Each species of molluscs retained their specific carotenoids. Comparative analysis of carotenoids between Black Sea mollusks and their species analogues from other regions of the World Ocean showed differences in the composition of carotenoids. Thus, changing environmental conditions of the same type of filter-feeding mollusk lead to the implementation of adaptation mechanisms in the body, as a result of which the qualitative composition of carotenoids changes.